A Blog Dedicated To Malaysian Reality Shows Malaysian Idol and Akademi Fantasia, And American Idol

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Khai's A Gentleman With Impeccable Manners And Values - Syafinaz

Lovely Syafinaz Selamat, the One In A Million (OIAM) judge and Malaysian Sarah Brightman, is all praises for Khairul Nizam (Khai) Wahi, her fellow Johorean who finished second in Akademi Fantasia 1 (AF1).

They starred together in Pentas, a Malaysian language play produced by the National Theatre of Malaysia early this year.

Syafinaz describes Khai as a disciplined and well-mannered gentleman who, while not the best of singers, got along well with everybody, across gender, age, racial, religious and regional divides.

Syafinaz hopes young singers and actors emulate Khai's commitment to family values and courtesy.

Khai is known for reminding young Malaysians to respect their elders and to care for them in their twilight years.

He is also known for his advocacy of road safety amongst Malaysian drivers.

Award-winning film-maker Yasmin Ahmad of Sepet fame recently made an Aidil Fitri advertisement for national oil company Petronas which paid tribute to Khai's social message of caring for one's aged parents.

The advertisement tells the story of a professional Native Malaysian woman whose self-centred husband grudgingly allows her ailing father to move in with them after a long stint in hospital.

The woman's father always loses control of his bladder, and drops his daughter's expensive plates and cups from the dining table during every meal.

He is eventually given plastic cups and plates, and a small table of his own, in the kitchen.

He laments his child's decision when he sees the family's cat eating from an expensive plate.

One day, the woman's children tell their parents that when they grow old, they will be in the same position as the old man.

The adult couple are shocked for a second, and seek the old man's forgiveness.

He readily forgives them and they exchange Aidil Fitri greetings.

Before Yasmin (she is also from Johor!) became a successful film-maker, she directed festive season advertisements for Petronas with important social messages such as family values and multi-racialism.